Lady's Mandrake

"Do these things really scream if you dig them out of the ground, like the ones in England?"

"Well, no, they don't scream their heads off, but they help women not scream their heads off during their red week's blight. That's lady's mandrake soup for you."

"Does it taste any good?"

"Good enough to be added to chicken soup, if you ask me!"

The name comes from the gender that most often made use of it. Lady's Mandrake has another equally poetic name in South China, Dong Quai or "Husband-Returner."
As a result, it has been used in the Tang Colony States as an ingredient in love potions, aside from the usual tonic for health problems.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

A yellowish root in the vague shape of a human figure, similar to ginseng. However, lady's mandrake generally is thinner than ginseng roots are.
Lady's mandrakes take root very deeply after being planted, so digging them up for harvest is a laborious task.
Above ground, they grow bushes that produce small white flowers and have little green leaves.

Genetics and Reproduction

Dong quai reproduces by roots being planted in the ground, and it takes 3 years to mature into full bushes.
The bushes grow flowers and can bear fruit, but farmers prefer to use root cuttings and sprout those.
Root cuttings supposedly are stronger than mandrakes grown from pollinated fruit.

Growth Rate & Stages

They take 3 years for the roots to mature, and the bushes grow to full height at the same time.

Ecology and Habitats

They are best grown in hilly open locations such as up in the colder mountains of Asia. Temperate locations are where they flourish most.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Used in herbal medicine to treat all sorts of women's ailments, such as menstrual cramps, weakness, and tiredness.
Young girls tend to prefer drinking it as part of bubble tea, while older ones either drink it straight as a soup or eat it after boiling.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

China, Japan, Korea, Northern Tang Colony States.

Scientific Name

Angelica sinesis

Lifespan

20 years

Conservation Status

These plants are not currently endangered as they are cultivated for human use.

Average Height

1 m (Bush)

Average Weight

100 g (Root)

Average Length

5 cm (Root)